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Missing hunger cues?

My youngest will be 2 months old on the 15th. Breastfeeding has been going great until the last couple of weeks. When he wakes up, he does not do the normal rooting or other cues. He goes into full out fussing and flailing. When I put him to the breast, sometimes he will be so worked up that he gags or he will immediately stop crying and just look around. When he does eat, it is for less than 10 minutes and a lot of the times he will fall asleep only to wake up 30 minutes later fussing again. This wasn't an issue before because he would make up for it at night by nursing every couple of hours. Now he is sleeping for a 5 1/2 to a 6 hour stretch. I offer first thing in the morning, but he just fusses. He still has 4-6 wets and has a normal bowel movement after almost every nursing session. Am I doing something wrong or is something else going on?

Re: Missing hunger cues?

Maybe your baby's a.m. fussiness is related to the fact that he's sleeping so long? If you're waking up with a lot of milk due to him sleeping through, he could be experiencing a very rapid letdown, which could lead to gagging and fussiness, as well as a rapid feeding. As long as your baby continues to have normal diaper ouput, I wouldn't worry. If the hypothesis above proves correct, most likely your milk supply will quickly adjust and the rapid letdowns- and morning fussiness- will subside.

Re: Missing hunger cues?

Sorry you are having trouble!! the only suggestions that I have are maybe you could try nursing you LO as he is waking up instead of waiting for him to wake up all the way. I know with my LO I could tell when he was starting to wake up becuase he moved around more. If you could get him in that stage you might have some luck getting him to latch before he is getting upset. Also what time of the day is he doing the waking up after 30 minutes hungry thing? I am asking becuase babies that start to STTN tend to tank up before bed. At 2 months old he is probably getting to be a more efficient nurser also so 10 minutes may not be an issue. Have you introduced a bottle recently?

Jessica

Moma to DS1-the monkinroanie (3/09) and DS2-the sweet pumpkin (5/12)Strong Women- May we have the delight of knowing them, the courage to be them and the privilege of raising them.
And yes I know my spelling terrible (is that spelled right? )

Re: Missing hunger cues?

It's not just in the morning that he is like that though. If it was, I wouldn't be so concerned, but it happens throughout the day. He does have a gas issue too, but that is not the cause over half of the time. He goes back to the dr. for his 2 month check up next week, but I don't think that the dr. knows enough about bf to answer any questions.

Re: Missing hunger cues?

Originally Posted by @llli*rcsmom

Sorry you are having trouble!! the only suggestions that I have are maybe you could try nursing you LO as he is waking up instead of waiting for him to wake up all the way. I know with my LO I could tell when he was starting to wake up becuase he moved around more. If you could get him in that stage you might have some luck getting him to latch before he is getting upset. Also what time of the day is he doing the waking up after 30 minutes hungry thing? I am asking becuase babies that start to STTN tend to tank up before bed. At 2 months old he is probably getting to be a more efficient nurser also so 10 minutes may not be an issue. Have you introduced a bottle recently?

He has only had 3 bottles since birth. 2 were because my husband begged to feed him and 1 was at 4 days old due to me having to get a blood patch from spinal headaches and they gave me morphine. I have not given him a bottle in over a month. As far as the fussiness, he won't even start to move around before waking. He starts throwing a fit while asleep and continues until I can get him settled and latched on. I never had a problem like this with my older 3, although I did have issues with DS #2. I am at a loss. Thank you!

Re: Missing hunger cues?

Maybe the issue is just your baby's personality? When it comes to waking and nursing, I think babies don't all fit into one mold. My first DD always woke up hungry and cranky. Until she was around 3, she woke up crying every single morning. It wasn't anything we were doing wrong- it was just who DD1 was.